Connecter or fastening device for chain bracelets



Oct. 22, 1935. c. H. KESTENMAN 2,018,068

CONNECTER 0R FASTENING DEVICE FCR CHAIN BRACELETS Filed June 22, 1955Patented; Oct 22, 11935 iUNI-TED STATES CONNECTER OR' FASTENING DEVICEFOR CHAIN BRACELETS Charles H. Kestenman, Providence, R. I., asignor toKestenman Bros. Mfg. Co., Providence, B. I.,

a corporation of Rhode Island y Application June 22, 1935, Serial No.27,905

, 9 Claims.

One oi" the objects?I of the. present' invention is toprovidearelatively iat chain bracelet comprising a plurality of interconnectedcurbed links and a detachable end-link having straight por- 10 tions forconnection with a clasp or to a Wrist- Watch, the end-link being soformed as tov adapt its straight portion to lie in the median plane oftheadjacent curbed link topwhich it is connected.

lAnother object of the invention is to provide a connecting end-link fora chain bracelet of the type indicated having straight end portionsterminating in spaced-apart relationship to provide for its quickYattachment to and'detachment from the bracelet to facilitate adding orremoving links to alter the length ofthe cnain.

f Another object of the invention is to provide a removable end-link forcurbed chain bracelets of the typeindicated and a connecting means on aclasp or wrist-watch which effect a compact joinder of the parts withoutimparting a twist to the bracelet.

Another Vobject of the invention is to provide a novel connecting meansfor chain bracelets which is of simple construction, adapted foreconomical manufacture, neat and ornamental in appearance and onewhich'may be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled to alter thelength of the 1 bracelet.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred form of construction of theinvention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanyingdrawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a link bracelet shown as connectedto a wrist-Watch and embodying a central clasp with the terminal linksoi the chain attachedto the watch and clasp by the present improvedconnecting means;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the bracelet,`

clasp and connecting means illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the same showing the relation ofthe connectingelements on the bracelet and clasp;

Fig. 4 isy a composite perspective View of the parts of the attachingmeans on the clasp shown in disassembled relationship;

Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view of the cooperating ends of the claspand bracelet shown in disassembled relationship; and l liig. 6 is-adetailedview of the connecting endlink for the chain.

The present invention is adapted for use with B curbed-V chainbracelets` of the prevailing mode as vworn with wrist-watchesand-similar articles of jewelry. Bracelets of this type have heretoforevbeen attached to the watch-case or clasp by inserting the end-link intoa box-like housing which 10. necessarily forms a bulky connectionbecause of the thickness of the curbed link due toits twisted curvature.WithL this previous form of connection the bracelet is secured to thebox-like housing by a projecting lug thereon which extends 15 throughthe opening in the link and allows a relatively free movement of thelink in the housing. If the link were to be held too tightly thebracelet would become twisted because of the curvature of the end-link.'In all such previously- 20 used bracelets the connecting end-link hasbeen formed as a closed loop which necessitates severing the link andspreading'the ends when it is desired to add or remove links to alterthe length of the chain.

The present improved form of end-link and connecting means on the claspor the wrist-watch provides a compact hinge-joint of a thicknesssubstantially equal to the thickness of the links of the bracelet andcompensates for the natural 30 twist of the chain. Further, the improvedform of connecter provides for quick attachment of the end-link to andits detachment from the bracelet to lfacilitate 4adding or removinglinks when the length of the chain is to be altered. 35 The presentimproved end-link has a straight side for connection with the watch-caseor the clasp, and is so shaped as to conform-to the twist in theadjacent curbed link to which it is connected. An opening is provided4in the straight 40 vportion of the end-link so that the latter may bequickly attached to or removed from the adjoining curbed link. Theend-link may be connected to the wrist-watch by an intermediate loop ofdeformable material adapted to closely embrace the straight portion ofthe end-link and a-transverse bail on the part to which the brace- A letis'connected.

Referring to the drawing, 6 designates a conventional type ofwrist-watch having bails 1 at its sides to which end-clasps orconnecters8 are attached. The ends of. the'fsections 9 of a twopart chain braceletare attached to the balls 'l by connecters 8 and the opposite ends ofthe 55 sections to a clasp III by similar connecting' means to be laterdescribed. 5

'I'he bracelet-sections El are constituted of a plurality ofinterconnected curbed links of conventional curvature or twisted shapewhich forms a substantially flat chain. In accordance with the presentinvention the end-.links I2 of each section 9 are of generallytriangular shape, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, having the twoadjacent sides I3 and I4 oppositely curved adjacent the apex end toconform to the curvature ofthe curbed links of the bracelet chain. Thethird side of each end-link I2 is straight and lies in the median planewith respect to the two curved sides I3 and I4; this form ofconstruction adapting the end-links to be attached to the wrist-watch 6and clasp I0 without imparting a twist to the bracelet chain connectedthereto. The third side of the trlangular-shaped endlink I2 is formed byinwardly-directed portions I5 having a common axis and terminating inspaced-apart relationship` to provide an opening IIS therebetween of awidth substantially equal to the thickness of the wire or other stripmaterial forming the curbed links. Due to this open-end construction theend-links I2 may be quickly removed from the bracelet by withdrawing theterminal curbed links thereof through the openings IIi. When itis-desired to either shorten or lengthen the bracelet by removing oradding a link thereto the end-link I2 may be quickly removed from theconnected curbed link and then quickly replaced after the alteration hasbeen accomplished without cutting or deforming the end-link. Thebracelet may then be attached to the clasp or Watch-case, as the casemay be, to effect a joint of a thickness not substantially greater thanthe thickness of the wire or other material forming the end-link due tothe straight side of the latter as constituted by the inwardlydirectedends' I5.

The sections 9 of the bracelet are attached to the opposite ends'of theclasp I0 by intermediate members I8` pivotally connected to the claspand having deformable portions adapted to be bent to loop around theinwardly-directed ends I5 of the end-links I2. The clasp III ispreferably of the adjustable type having a, main body member I9 and aU-shaped extension member 20 slidingly mounted therein. As shown inFigs. 2 and 3 the member I8 is pivotally attached to the extendiblemember 20 by a looped end 2| curled about the crossbar 22 thereof. Asfurther shown in Fig. 4, each member I8 is narrowed at 23 so that it maybe passed through the opening between the curved sides of the end-linkI2, this portion being then bent to form a closed loop embracing theinwardly-directed ends I5 of the end-link I2. The terminal portion 24 ofthe member I8 is further reduced in width to fit within a vcut-awayportion 25 on the looped ,end 2| whereby to provide a smooth continuoussurface on the under side of the member without projections or sharpedges liable to scratch the wrist on which the bracelet is worn. Anintermediate member I8 is pivotally connected to the opposite end of theclasp I by means of a pivot-pin 26 extending through ears 21 at thesides of the body member I9 and the looped end 2| of the band. Abushing28 is preferably provided on the pin 28 for reception in thelooped end 2| of the member I8 to insure a close fit; -the end portionof the member being bent to form a second loop embracing the straightside of the lpreviously explained.

The end-links 29 for attaching the ends of the bracelet-sections 9 tothe wrist-watch are preferably of the same form of construction as theend-links I2` for connecting the sections to the clasp I9. However, atvthis end of the braceletsections 9 the end-links 29 may be made ascontinuous closed loops if desired since the length of the chain may bealtered 'at the opposite clasp end. Whether the end-link 29 be made asa. closed loop or providedl with an opening for detachment from thechain, two of its sides are oppositely curved to vconform to thecurvature of the curbed links andthe third side is made straight forconnection by a compact hinge-joint.

The connecters 8 for attaching the braceletsections 9 to the Watch-casemay be of any suitable structure and, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3,are similar to the looped memberssIB for connecting the sections to theclasp III. The strips forming the connecters 8, however, have one endportion of a width substantially equal tol the width of the wrist-watchbails 'I, these portions being bent to provide loops 99 for embracingthe balls. The narrower portions 3| of the connecters 8 are loopedaround the inwardly-directed end portions I forming the straight side ofeach end-link 29. The looped end 30 has a cut-away portion 32 forreceiving the narrowed end of the loop 3| while also providing for theinsertion of a. tool to pry this latter end away from the looped end 39to release the end-link 29.

When it is desired to alter the length of the bracelet by eitherremoving or adding a link the chain is released from its attachment toeither the Watch-case I or clasp I0 by prying open the loop on themember 8 or I8, whichever it may be. to release the end-link 29 or I2 ofthe section 9 to be altered. The end-link I2 or 29 may then be quicklyremoved from the bracelet-section by passing the curbed terminal linkf,of the chain through the opening I9 between its inwardly-directed endsI5. One or more of the curbed links may then be removed by cutting. themapart or extra links added to the chain. If the alteration is made atthe clasp end of the bracelet-section the end-link I2 is attached to thesection by inserting the terminal curbed link through its opening I6 andthe ends I5 are then enclosed in the loop of the intermediate member I8by bending the end 24 around into the cut-away portion 25 of the loopedend 2|. When thus connected the bracelet may be applied to the wrist andbecause of its flexibility it will readily conform to the contourthereof. Because of the oppositely curved sides I3 and Il of theend-link I2 which conform to the curvature of the adjoining curbed linkto which it is attached, the straight side of the end-link will lie inthe median plane of the adjoining curb-link to overcome any tendency ofthe chain to twist.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides a novel form of connecter for attaching curbed linkbracelets to clasps and wrist-watches with a compact joint of neat andornamental appear-V ance and a joinder of the parts which prevents anytendency of the chain to twist.

It will be further observed that a novel form of construction isprovided which facilitates the operation of altering the length of thebracelet by unskilled persons without marring or deforming the links ofits chain sections.

I It will also be apparent that the connecter ofV the present in ventionis of simple construction which lends to economical manufacture `dndassemblyt e While I have herein shown and described a preferred form ofthe device, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in thestructure and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in thisrespect, I claim: y

l. A flexible chain bracelet adapted i'or detachable connection toarticles of Jewelry com.- prising a plurality of curbed links forming asub-'- stantially flat chain, and a connecting end-link having a curbedportion f or cooperation with a terminal curbed link ofthe chain andstraight inwardly-directed end portions terminating in spaced-apartrelationship to provide an opening therebetween.

2. A iiexible chain bracelet comprising a plurality of curbed linksforming a substantially at chain, and a connecting end-link having acentral curbed portion for connectionwith a terminal curbed link of thechain' and 'inwardly-directed end portions adapted to lie yin the medianplane of the c urbed link, said end portions terminating inspaced-.apart relationship to provide an opening therebetween of a widthgreater than the thickness of the curbed link whereby the endlink may bequickly attached to or detached from the bracelet.

3. A flexible chain bracelet comprising a plurality of curbed linksforming a substantially at chain, and the sides adjacent one of vitsapexes oppositely curved to conform to the curvature o! the curbed linksand a straight side opposite said apex adapted to lie in the plane ofthe flat chain. the straight side of the end-link having an openingwhereby i operation with said end-link may be quickly attached t-ordetached from the bracelet. i

4. In a bracelet for wrist-watches, the combination of a substantiallyfiat chain formed of a plurality of interconnected curbed links, adetachable en d-link having a curbed portion for coa curbed link of thechain and straight inwardly-directed end portions terminating inspaced-apart relationship, anda member adapted for attachment to awrist-watch or clasp and provided with means for embracing theinwardly-directed end portions of the end-link.

5. In a bracelet for wrist-watches', the combination of a substantiallyiiat chain formed of a plurality of interconnectedcurbed links, a clasphaving a connecting loop at the end thereof, and an end-link having acurbed portion i'or cooperation with a terminal curbed link of the chainand inwardly-directed end portions terminating in spaced-apartrelationship whereby the end-link may be quickly attached to lor removedfrom the a triangular-shaped end-link having A curbed link, saidconnecting loop on the lasp embracing the spaced-apart end portions of eendlink to connect it to the clasp. 4

6. In a bracelet for wrist-watches, the combination ot a substantiallyflat chain formed by 'a 5 plurality of interconnected -curbed links, aclasp having a looped member pivotally mounted at one end thereof, and aconnecting' link of triangular shape having` adjacent sides oppositelycurved to conform to the contour of a terminal curbed link 10 of thechain and a third side adapted to lie in the median plane of the curbedlinks of the chain and to be enclosed in the looped member, said thirdside having an opening formed therein to allow detachment of theconnecting link from the curbed link connected therewith.

7. In a bracelet for wrist-watches, the combinationot a flat chainformed of a plurality of interconnected curbed links, a connecting linkat the end ofthe chain having a curbed portion for cooperation with theterminal curbed link of the chain. and inwardly-directed end portionsterminating in spaced-apart relationship to .permit the connecting linkto be quickly attached and removed from the chain. and a connecting loopembracing the inwardly-directed end portions of the connecting link forattaching the bracelet to the watch. L 8. In a bracelet for wristwatches. the combination o! a pair of substantially fiat chains formedof a plurality of curbed. links having means at their ends forconnecting them to the opposite sides of a wrist-watch, a clasp member,looped members connected to the ends ofthe clasp member, and a pair'ofconnecting links having curbed portions 35 for 4cooperation withtheterminal curbed links at the opposite .ends of the chains and -straightinwardly-directed end portions embraced by the intermediatelooped-members. said 'end portions terminating in spaced-apartrelationship where- 40 by the connecting links may be quickly attachedto or detached from the terminal curbedlinks -ot the chains.

9. In a bracelet for wrist-watches. the combination of a pair ofsubstantially fiat 'chains 45 vformed of a plurality of curbed links,connecting links at the opposite ends of the chains having curbedportions for cooperating with the terminal curbed links of the chainsand straight inwardly-directed end' portions terminating in 50spaced-apart relationship, connecting members for attachment to thewrist-watch and having means for embracing the straightinwardly-directed end portions of the connecting links-at the ends ofthe chains, and a clasp having connecting loops at its opposite endsfrom embracing the inwardly-directed end portions of the connectinglinks at the opposite ends of the chains.

CHARLES H. 6o

CERTIFICATE or ConnECT'toN. A

Patent No. 2,018,068.. .octoberzz, 193s.

CHARLES H.' KESTENMAN.

It is hereby certified that err`or appears in the printed specificationof theaboi/e numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,second column, line- 56, Claim 9, for "from" read for; and that tho saidLetters Patent should be read with this Icorrection therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signedaud sealed this y26th day of November, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

